Academy’s Grease is one slick show

Friday

Jul 22, 2011 at 2:00 AM

DA hairstyles, black leather jackets and poodle skirts are de rigueur for the next few weeks at the Academy of Performing Arts in Orleans as the classic high school rock and roll musical Grease boogie-woogies onto the stage.

DA hairstyles, black leather jackets and poodle skirts are de rigueur for the next few weeks at the Academy of Performing Arts in Orleans as the classic high school rock and roll musical Grease boogie-woogies onto the stage.

The Jim Jacobs/Warren Casey show is celebrating its 40th birthday this year, and the APA production directed by Judy Hamer certainly does it justice, The greasers are cool and the chicks are even cooler as they head back to school at their dear old alma mater, Rydell High.

The show premiered off-Broadway in 1971, but it was quickly apparent that the teenage-based musical was destined to make history as the play jumped to the Great White Way the very next year. By the time of its staggering 3,388th performance, it was the longest running musical of its day. In 1978, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John put their stamp on the film version and everybody around the world knew that not only that grease was the word, but that the story of teens transitioning into adults was common and identifiable to everyone everywhere.

The Academy’s ensemble of teenagers might be young, but they certainly aren’t short of talent. Numbering more than 20 with some double-casting, there are no weak links to be found.

The July 15 show featured Drew Frayre as Danny Zuko, (he splits the role with Kai Stewart). Frayre’s fine voice and leading man looks easily make him the heartthrob of the school’s newest transfer student Sandy Dumbrowski, cutely played by Kelley Orcutt. Their voices blend terrifically in the show’s most recognizable tune, “Summer Nights,” one of the highlights in a show full of great musical numbers.

Brian C. Williams as tough guy Kenickie and Lily Mae Harrington, his female counterpart Betty Rizzo, also do an excellent job singing and dancing as they grab lots of laughs along the way. Harrington showcases a beautiful powerhouse voice when she sings “Look at Me I’m Sandra Dee.” Together she and Williams show their energetic dancing style in the musical number “Born to Hand Jive.”

There is plenty of talent to go around with Brittany McSorley as Frenchie, Emily Drago as Jan, Johanna Regan as Marty, Ben Taylor as Doody, Evyn Newton as Roger, Kevin Quill as Sonny LaTierri, Ryan Rudewicz as Eugene and Makayla Cussen as Patty Simcox. All bring their A-game to their roles.

The Academy’s pit band led by musical director Christopher Morris is right at home with the rock and roll score, and the choreography by Chris Phillips and Judy Hamer give the show the perfect sock hop feel.

If there is anything to knock, it’s only apparent to those who saw the Academy’s last show a few weeks back. The set looks quite similar to the streets and hills of ancient Rome featured in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Unlike the recycled city of antiquity, Grease never gets old. It’s another showcase for the deep pool of young talent singing and dancing all around the peninsula this summer.

Grease is running Tuesdays through Sundays at 8 p.m. through Aug. 13. For tickets ($22), call 508-255-1963 or go to www.apacape.org.